We hear it all the time, drink more water, but when you spend your entire life drinking everything but water, water just doesn't taste very good. So can we achieve the same benefits with water alternatives? Will soda, tea, coffee, or any other flavored liquid keep our body hydrated and nourished the way it so desperately needs? Lets find out.
Our Bodies Need Water
The very foundation of the body is water. In fact over half of the adult body consists of water, nearly 60%! Let's break that number down:
The brain consists of 73% water.
The heart also consists of 73% water.
The lungs are around 83% water.
Skin is made up of around 64% water.
Muscles and kidneys are composed of close to 79% water.
Even the bones are watery consisting of 31% water. *
So as you can see our bodies are literally made up of water and most certainly require water to continue to function properly. Therefore it is important that when the water inside of our body starts to diminish in forms such as sweat that we replenish this life liquid.
What Functions Does Water Serve in the Human Body?
We are told to drink water, we can see that our bodies are made up of 60% water, but how does our body use this water to function?
Water regulates body temperature via sweat and respiration.
It is a vital part of every cell in the human body, and is the building block of cells.
Water protects the brain and spinal cord from shock by serving as an absorber.
It serves as an oxygen delivery system in the body.
Water plays a vital role in digestion.
It flushes body waste.
The brain uses water to manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters.
Pure Water
Can water serve the same purpose when altered?
Water in its' natural form is simple. It does not require the body to undergo much work in order to gain the benefits it has to give. However, the more you alter water in its' pure state the more work your body must do to break it down before gaining the benefits. Some chemicals that are added to water can even deplete the nutrients that would otherwise be found in the water thus making it almost completely useless to your body.
Soda/Pop/Soft Drinks...Call them what you want, they all mean the same thing. Despite the dangers that are present when drinking a soft drink, millions of people do so everyday, in fact millions of people would rather grab a soda than a bottle of water when choosing a drink to accompany a meal. The first step to creating soda is to dissolve carbon dioxide which is under pressure into water. This creates the fizzy bubbly water that is the base of soft drinks. In this form water is mostly pure. The nutrients found in water's pure form are still present and your body doesn't have to work any harder to digest or break down water in carbonated form versus non-carbonated form. However, the next step to creating a soda is the adding of sugar, dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, caffeine, fruit juice, and sugar substitutes. Essentially a soft drink consists of carbonated water, flavoring (mostly artificial), and sugar (lots and lots of sugar). These additives cause the body to work harder at breaking down the soda in order to find the nutrients as well as deplete the water of good nutrients and add dangerous chemicals.
The additives, namely sugar and sugar substitutes in the form of sweeteners and high-fructose corn syrup not only provide a great deal of bad calories, but they also create more work for your body. The calories found in soda are useless and they have no nutritional value whatsoever.
Do not drink your calories, one of the biggest fights that most people trying to get healthy and lose weight go through is that of lowering their caloric intake. Giving up soda can be hard. When your taste buds are used to the sugary sweetness of a soft drink water can taste very bland in comparison. However, after you have gained the knowledge of all of the bad attributes of soft drinks you can use these facts to your advantage. Choosing water over soda has many benefits, and one way you can help yourself make the healthier choice is by making a list of all the reasons you no longer want that soda. Post the list on your fridge and post a mini version in your vehicle if drinking a soda is something you do regularly when you drive.
You do not have to give up soda altogether, though that is ideal. It can be a very difficult thing to give up. I suggest starting off slowly. Replace one meal drink a day with water, and once you have that choice under your belt and it has become a habit, replace another.
Always remember that what you put in your body is your choice. You have the power to become healthier merely by making better choices. A can of regular soda contains anywhere from 140-165 calories, imagine how many calories you can cut out of your diet simply by replacing soda with water! If you typically drink 3 cans of regular soda a day you can cut 420-495 calories out of your diet just by choosing water. Water is a non-calorie drink, therefore you can drink as much water as you want and it doesn't take away from your daily calorie goal. Another benefit is that water is a very filling substance and can help you to eat less as well.
In summation, the next time you are thinking of grabbing a soda, even a "diet" soda, grab a water instead. Your body will thank you!
Until next time, Enjoy.
Resources:
The Water In You
Our Bodies Need Water
The very foundation of the body is water. In fact over half of the adult body consists of water, nearly 60%! Let's break that number down:
The brain consists of 73% water.
The heart also consists of 73% water.
The lungs are around 83% water.
Skin is made up of around 64% water.
Muscles and kidneys are composed of close to 79% water.
Even the bones are watery consisting of 31% water. *
So as you can see our bodies are literally made up of water and most certainly require water to continue to function properly. Therefore it is important that when the water inside of our body starts to diminish in forms such as sweat that we replenish this life liquid.
What Functions Does Water Serve in the Human Body?
We are told to drink water, we can see that our bodies are made up of 60% water, but how does our body use this water to function?
Water regulates body temperature via sweat and respiration.
It is a vital part of every cell in the human body, and is the building block of cells.
Water protects the brain and spinal cord from shock by serving as an absorber.
It serves as an oxygen delivery system in the body.
Water plays a vital role in digestion.
It flushes body waste.
The brain uses water to manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters.
Pure Water
Can water serve the same purpose when altered?
Water in its' natural form is simple. It does not require the body to undergo much work in order to gain the benefits it has to give. However, the more you alter water in its' pure state the more work your body must do to break it down before gaining the benefits. Some chemicals that are added to water can even deplete the nutrients that would otherwise be found in the water thus making it almost completely useless to your body.
Soda/Pop/Soft Drinks...Call them what you want, they all mean the same thing. Despite the dangers that are present when drinking a soft drink, millions of people do so everyday, in fact millions of people would rather grab a soda than a bottle of water when choosing a drink to accompany a meal. The first step to creating soda is to dissolve carbon dioxide which is under pressure into water. This creates the fizzy bubbly water that is the base of soft drinks. In this form water is mostly pure. The nutrients found in water's pure form are still present and your body doesn't have to work any harder to digest or break down water in carbonated form versus non-carbonated form. However, the next step to creating a soda is the adding of sugar, dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, caffeine, fruit juice, and sugar substitutes. Essentially a soft drink consists of carbonated water, flavoring (mostly artificial), and sugar (lots and lots of sugar). These additives cause the body to work harder at breaking down the soda in order to find the nutrients as well as deplete the water of good nutrients and add dangerous chemicals.
The additives, namely sugar and sugar substitutes in the form of sweeteners and high-fructose corn syrup not only provide a great deal of bad calories, but they also create more work for your body. The calories found in soda are useless and they have no nutritional value whatsoever.
Do not drink your calories, one of the biggest fights that most people trying to get healthy and lose weight go through is that of lowering their caloric intake. Giving up soda can be hard. When your taste buds are used to the sugary sweetness of a soft drink water can taste very bland in comparison. However, after you have gained the knowledge of all of the bad attributes of soft drinks you can use these facts to your advantage. Choosing water over soda has many benefits, and one way you can help yourself make the healthier choice is by making a list of all the reasons you no longer want that soda. Post the list on your fridge and post a mini version in your vehicle if drinking a soda is something you do regularly when you drive.
You do not have to give up soda altogether, though that is ideal. It can be a very difficult thing to give up. I suggest starting off slowly. Replace one meal drink a day with water, and once you have that choice under your belt and it has become a habit, replace another.
Always remember that what you put in your body is your choice. You have the power to become healthier merely by making better choices. A can of regular soda contains anywhere from 140-165 calories, imagine how many calories you can cut out of your diet simply by replacing soda with water! If you typically drink 3 cans of regular soda a day you can cut 420-495 calories out of your diet just by choosing water. Water is a non-calorie drink, therefore you can drink as much water as you want and it doesn't take away from your daily calorie goal. Another benefit is that water is a very filling substance and can help you to eat less as well.
In summation, the next time you are thinking of grabbing a soda, even a "diet" soda, grab a water instead. Your body will thank you!
Until next time, Enjoy.
Resources:
The Water In You